Apple supplier is said to be manufacturing AirPods components in India for export to China and Vietnam
Apple supplier Jabil Inc’s India unit has begun manufacturing components for AirPods in the country and is shipping the AirPods body or plastic case to China and Vietnam, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing lead people familiar with the matter.
Apple and Jabil did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The move marks another step in Apple’s plan to move production out of China amid rising trade and geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington.
The iPhone maker wants India to account for up to 25% of its production, from about 5-7% today, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. “Apple, another success story,” Piyush Goyal speak earlier this month, promoting India as a competitive manufacturing destination. “They’ve got around 5-7% of their production in India. If I’m not mistaken, they’re targeting up to 25% of their production. They’ve launched the latest models from India. , made in India.”
Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Information Technology and Electronics, tweeted on Monday that Apple’s exports from India hit $1 billion (about Rs 8,141 crore) in December.
Apple has been betting big on India since it started assembling iPhones in the country in 2017, in line with the Indian government’s push for local manufacturing. Last year, the company request its suppliers to move some AirPods and made Beats headphones for the first time in India.
Apple iPhone assembler Foxconn is preparing to manufacture Beats headphones in India and hopes to eventually manufacture AirPods in the country as well, the report said, citing sources. Luxshare Precision Industry, a Chinese supplier to the iPhone maker and its units, also plans to help Apple manufacture AirPods in India, according to the report.
